Month: August 2006

Thursday wasn’t without its successes for Russellform. The pundits were none too complimentary about Meikle Barfil this afternoon but he had been given a chance by the handicapper and was very good value at 16s.  I got it wrong where Alambic and Cool Customer were concerned. All credit to the giant Alambic who simply galloped her rivals into submission.  I thought that Cool Customer was given a bit too much to do but all credit to the winner.  Both horses have more than justified their selection on the list to follow.

  

I was also pleased to have tipped a couple of 2 year old winners.  So Sweet won comfortably for Frankie Dettori and the underrated Vital Statistics turned over the hot favourite Wid in the listed race at Salisbury.  Vital Statistics was well ridden by John Egan I thought.  He gave her plenty of cover early on and delivered a perfectly timed challenge.

  

For those who follow the fortunes of the old Platinum Racing Club runners I see that Gaelic Princess came in today at a nice price and Million Percent was second at 8/1.

  

 Meikle Barfil lost his maiden certificate today and I am just wondering if Henchman could do likewise in the 3.25 at Chepstow.  He tried to make all when 3rd last time out and seems to be getting closer to that elusive first win.  Rain would probably help his cause.

  

Mark Johnston gives a debut to Eau Good in the Haydock 3.00.  Looks interesting on pedigree and one to look out for.

  

I am hopeful that the 3.35 will go to one of out list horses with Fullandby amd Zomerlust both in with good chances.  Fullandby’s second at Ripon last time was very encouraging and he just gets my vote.

  

The 2.10 at Kempton looks a decent maiden.  Fever and Maslak both have claims but I will go for the one raced Monzante who was third at Newbury on his debut. Coeur de Lionne, a stablemate of Monzante is one for the notebook.  He is related on the dam’s side to Derby winner Sir Percy.

 

Continue reading “Diary: September 1 2006” →

I didn’t expect too much joy from today’s racing but at least Manchurian gave me a winner.

  

Our Ruby was probably findable in the opener at Leicester, not that I managed to find her.  She had shown bits of form and is related to 2 year old winners.  She si owned a a Ruby Williams, hence the name I suppose.

  

One of the oddest winners of the day was probably Crossbow Creek.  He started his career by winning a bumper, went on to score over hurdles and then fences.  By winning a maiden at Lingfield he has completed the set – not in the usual order though.

  

The defeat of odds on favourite Warsaw Pact does not bode well for stable companion Alambic in the 3.30 at Musselburgh tomorrow.  It may be that the other horse from our list to follow in that race, Cool Customer may have the better chance.  Cool Customer has already recorded 3 wins this season and was afr from disgraced when 4^th at Goodwood last time under top weight.

  

I thought about Art Investor, another from my list to follow for the 6.10 at Beverley.  The stable have a good record at this track.  However, trends say that a well fancied runner will win as the longest priced winner in the last 8 years has been 2/1.

  

Mick Channon sends So Sweet up to Redcar for the nursery at 2.10.  She is a full sister to Crosspeace and won well last time out despite being slowly away.  Frankie Dettori has the ride.  Good chance.

  

In the 2.40 it is possible that Strathmore is a bit better than his form so far would indicate.

  

Ryedale Ovation is upped in tyrip for the 3.40.  He was a staying on 3^rd here over 7 furlongs last time and is not without a chance.

  

At Salisbury I note that the handicapper is starting to take a chance with Meikle Barfil who is now down to a mark of 55.  He has just been starting to show glimpses of form and is interesting in the 2.20 at Salisbury.

  

I like the look of Petara Bay, a newcomer in the 2.50.  He is a half brother to the classy pair Percussionist and Echoes of Eternity.  Among other things Echoes in Eternity won the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket in 2003.

  

Sticking with the unraced 2 year olds Affiliation looks worth noting on breeding but will probably need the race.

  

In the 4.20 I just wonder if the consistent Vital Statistics could upset the favourite Wid.

  

Parnassian should appreciate conditions and is my each way tip in the 5.20.

  

I have been following the progress of Diamond Hurricane this season.  He has won 2 of his 4 starts and can go in again in the 7.00 at Wolverhampton.

 

Continue reading “Diary: August 31 2006” →

Well Monday’s racing went quite well for our list horses with 3 winners.  Fear to Tread got home under a very strong ride from Jimmy Quinn but Cesare was a rather more comfortable winner and may be able to go on to even better things.

  

There is not a lot to say about Wednesday’s meetings.  I see that River Thames carries top weight in the 3.30 at Leicester.  I tipped him a couple of times last saeason when he won but as a result he started this season rather high in the weights.  He is coming down the ratings now and is worth keeping an eye on. I remember watching his last race when he was down the field behind Burning Incense and at one point of the commentary Derek Thompson said “and River Thames is flowing!”

  

At Lingfield newcomers Forefathers and Alittlebitleft are worth a close look.

  

Sticking with the debut juveniles Robbie Scott is bred for the job in the 2.10 at Wolverhampton.  Runners from this stable often need their first run though.

  

The 3.10 looks a decent maiden for the track.  Manchurian showed plenty of promise when 3^rd at Haydock and looks the one to beat.  Of the newcomers Not Another Cat has possibilities.

  

There are  only two runners from our list to follow.  Warsaw Pact  goes for his 5^th win of the campaign in the 3.40.  Sir Mark Prescott’s 3 year old winners have dried up since that purple patch a few weeks ago.  On form Warsaw Pact has a fair chance at around 3/1 but this is no penalty kick.

 

Imperial Gain is our other runner.  He looks to have a bit to find in the 4.00 at Leicester.

  

There are 5 meetings on the flat on Thursday so I will be back tomorrow evening for a look at those.

 

Continue reading “Diary: August 30 2006” →

Not a bad day for the list to follow today with 3 wins and 3 seconds.  For the record the winners were Cesare 11/10, River Rio 8/1 (backed down from 14s) and Fear to Tread 12/1.

  There are no runners from the list to follow in action on Tuesday.

Continue reading “Diary: August 29 2006” →

Sunday was a bit of a bleak day for my selections and for the list to follow. Only Benbaun at the Curragh scored for the list horses, a well deserved success after a string of close seconds.

  

I will look at the Bank Holiday Monday racing in alphabetical order starting at Chepstow.

  

In the 3.05 Mark Johnston’s Teslin showed promise on his debut when 2^nd at Sandown and should come on for that.

  

Zowington has already won for us at 11/1 and I would hope that he will go in again before the end of the season.  He runs in the 3.25 at Epsom.

  

Classic Punch has done his job as a horse to follow as he has already won at 25/1.  He runs in the 4.35 at Epsom He has a bit to do on the form book.

  

In the 2.10 at Newcastle Mark Johnston introduces a well bred newcomer in Colorado Rapid.  This could well be one to follow next season as well as this.

  

Inchnadamph had a good season last year but has not found his form in two runs this time around.  He runs in the 3.55 after a break of 44 days.  He gets this trip well and although he may just be a few pounds too high in the weights a return to form is not out of the question.

  

Sir Nod represents the list to follow in the 5.05.  I have not had much luck following this stable and Sir Nod has not won yet this year.  He did win on 27 August for those that subscribe to the theory that horses come good at certain times of the year.

  

I am hopeful about Greek Renaissance in the 3.00 at Ripon.  This full brother to Machinist was a bit of an unlucky loser last time.

  

Rio Riva has won at 3 different Yorkshire tracks and seeks to add Ripon to the collection in the 3.35.  He won first time out but has not been able to follow up on 2 subsequent runs.  Ground might be a negative.

  

Amber Valley has the form in the 4.10.

  

You need a long memory in racing and I remember The Judge, trained by Paul Cole winning the Newbury Spring Cup in 2002 after being a disappointing favourite in the Lincoln the month before.  His half sister Dansil in Distress makes her debut in the 3.10.  She is not well drawn but is one to watch out for.

  

Cesare is in his second year on my list to follow and he owes me nothing.  He won 3 times last season and this term he has already won the Royal Hunt Cup at 14/1.  He has claims in the 3.45 at Warwick. Concerns might be the small field as he has never won in a single figure field.  Our other list horse is Mostashaar who has been most disappointing.

  

We have a couple of list runners in the 6.00 with Fear to Tread and Spectral Star.  Spectral Star is raised 3 lbs for her recent win at Leicester and has a fair chance of following up.

 

Continue reading “Diary: August 28 2006” →

We had a few winners from the horses featured last night.  Tudor Prince finally got his head in front, winning pretty comfortably at Newmarket in ground described as bottomless.  Performance of the day came from Drumfire.  You don’t often see a 2 year old headed a furlong out and fight back to win.  He looks as though he will only improve.  There were also wins for Duke of Tuscany and El Bosque.

  

Our list to follow also enjoyed some success with wins for Jadalee who battled hard to win a listed race at Goodwood and Ordnance Row who made pretty well all the running at Chester to score at 20/1.

  

On Friday Heaven Knows and Sharpsburg were winners for the list to follow.  Heaven Knows in particular quickened really well after getting boxed in.  Sharpsburg kept up the recent successful run for the Godolphin team.

  

Looking forward to Sunday I see that Beech Games runs in the 2.00.  He was 4^th last time at Lingfield to Heywood who was a winner today.

  

In the 2.30 I thought that Golden Topaz might have an each way chance although the stable are not in great form.

  

In the 3.05 Trojan Flight has lost his last 26 starts but is not without ability. Not at all badly handicapped on his best form.

  

I am hopeful that our list horse Tax Free can land the 3.35.  His two main rivals are Quito, who has never won at this trip, and Baltic King who would want the ground faster.

  

Eisteddfod has yet to register a win this season but the 2.20 at Deauville might well be his best chance yet.  Ground conditions should be in his favour.

  

Our list to follow is represented by Safqa in the 3.15 at Goodwood.  He has been very consistent this season and only lost out in the closing stages to Airbuss last time at Nottingham.  Should again give a good account at Goodwood.

  

The big race of the day is Group 2 Celebration Mile at 3.50.  George Washington will be hard to beat if reproducing his early season form.  The other runner from our list to follow is Rob Roy who would not be far away at his best.  As a member of the Elite Racing Club I would like to see Soviet Song scoop the valuable prize.

  

Height of Fury runs for the list to follow in the 5.30 but has a bit to find on the form book in order to take a hand in the finish.

  

Roclette runs in the 2.20 at Yarmouth.  She suffered a nasty fall on her last run but if none the worse for that should go well.

  

Harrison’s Flyer has been knocking on the door and I am hoping that his turn will come in the 4.00.

  

El Alamein has not done as well as some of the other 3 year olds from his stable but might be good enough to win the 5.05 which looks a pretty ordinary affair.

  See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: August 27 2006” →

I am short of time tonight so I will just give you the horses running tomorrow from our list to follow and suggest a few names for the 2 year old races.

Chester 2.45 Captain Marvellous & Narrjoo:  3.25 Easy Air & Ordnance Row:  4.00 Book of Music: 

 

Goodwood 2.00 Duke of Tuscany:  3.05 Fullandby:  3.40 Jadalee:  4.15: Minority Report: 

 

Newmarket 1.45 Tudor Prince:  3.20 Ebn Reem & Just Dust; 

 

Sandown 2.05 Innocent Air & Eilean Ban;  2.35 Drumfire & Prince Golan;  3.10 Coup D’Etat & Pagan Sword:  3.45 High Reach: 

 

5.05 Windsor El Bosque:  6.05 Khyber Kim & Ouninpohja:  6.35 Classic Punch:

 

I will be back on Saturday evening.  Good luck.

Continue reading “Diary: August 26 2006” →

You might have noticed that I have started a “Hall of Fame” section recently for favourite horses of mine.  Well I am sure I will find a place for Quito in that select band as he has been a great friend over the years and won for me yet again today at York. He has a tremendous turn of foot at the end of his races and won with a typical swooping late run today to score his 19^th career success and his 3rd at York.  With regular pilot Tony Culhane sidelined Robert Winston proved a more than able deputy.

  

Another old friend to win today was Smokin’ Beau who has certainly recaptured some of his old sparkle of late.  He had shown some good form at Glorious Goodwood and was always in the fore at Musselburgh today under a tidy ride from Victoria Behan.

  

We also had a winner from the list to follow with Reverence taking the Nunthorpe with some aplomb.

  

Moving on to the numerous meetings on Friday Centreboard should go well in the 6.00 at Bath.  He was 6^th behind the smart English Ballet last time out.

  

Phone In found his way into my list to follow as a promising Sir Mark Prescott 3 year old but he has been most disappointing and has now changed stables.  He runs in the 8.00

  Kenmore is being tipped up by some for the 2.55 at Chester after tumbling down the weights.  He is drawn badly though.  Ordnance Row is still running off a mark higher than his best winning rating.  He does have a good draw though.  

One of the better chances of a winner from our list to follow is probably Heaven Knows in the 4.40. This lightly raced three year old should appreciate a step up in distance and comes from a stable that is going well.

  

I thought Cliché ran well in 4^th on her debut behind So Sweet and I fancy her to open her account in the Newmarket 1.40.  Of the unraced types Wanessa Tiger looks interesting being a half sister to top sprinter Fayr Jag.

  There are a number of runners in the 2.10 that have been featured on these pages during the season, like Gremlin, Eager Ivor and Cheap Street.  Gremlin perhaps has the best chance of these. 

Silca Soprano won last time out at Southwell but without too much to spare and I am by no means certain that she will be able to follow up in the 2.45.

  

Henry Cecil does not get as many winners as in his golden period but seems to have a useful 2 year old in Many Volumes who created a very favourable impression when a close up 3^rd on his debut last month.  He is the obvious selection although some of the newcomers could be a danger.  Forefathers, Rock Anthem and Vanquisher are all the subject of promising reports.

  

Whispering Death has done well for the list to follow. He runs in the 4.30 and should go well if handling the ground.

  

Stagehand has an each way chance in the 5.20 at Salisbury.

  

Godolphin colt Sharpsburg makes a belated reappearance in the 6.50 at Salisbury. He has been off the course since running 2^nd in a Newbury maiden last October. With the Godolphin horses in such great form I am hopeful.

  

Inflight stormed home in good style at Kempton the other day and looks to follow up quickly under a 6 lbs penalty in the 2.00 at Sandown.

  

Harrison’s Flyer will be having his 9^th run of the season in the 2.35.  He is proving expensive to follow.

  

Regal Flush shaped well on his debut at Newbury and should go well in the 3.10.

  See you tomorrow

Continue reading “Diary; August 25 2006” →

I had hopes for the horses on my list to follow today but apart from Alexandrova and Glistening they were largely disappointing.  The 2 year olds featured on the site have been doing OK lately and Conquest won the Gimcrack on his trainers 46th birthday, while Inflight won the opener at Kempton this evening.

  

Turning to Thursday York starts with the St Leger Yearling Stakes at 1.45.  Six of the last 8 winners started at 9/1 or bigger so this may well go to an outsider.  Dazed and Amazed has a couple of wins to his name but is giving weight all round and there are probably better options.  He also ran today so probably will turn out to be a non runner.  I have been looking around for something at a decent price for this and decided on Fishforcompliments and Lipocco as a couple of possible.  For my final selection I will opt for Fishforcompliments who looked to have scope for further improvement when winning a fortnight ago at Haydock and is well drawn.

  

The Lowther Stakes has been won by some decent fillies in the past including Russian Rhythm in 2002.  I don’t have any strong views on this year’s renewal.  Once again looking for value I wondered about Indian Ink who may just have been a bit squeezed for room when 4^th t Ascot last time.

  

The Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at 2.50 is difficult to gauge without knowing the state of the ground.  There are 3 runners from our list to follow and they all have a chance. Benbaun deserves to win a race having finished runner up in all 4 of his races this season.  Moss Vale has  done us proud this season winning 3 Group races but ridden by Kieren Fallon on each occasion.  He seems to go on any ground but may be better at 6 furlongs.  Reverence is an improving sort and won the Temple Stakes at Sandown earlier in the season.  He would have a serious chance if the ground is riding soft.

  

We have 2 list horses in the 3.25 in Lincoln winner Blythe Knight and the disappointing Rohaani.  Blythe Knight acts well on soft ground but is not well drawn. There are a few old favourites in this from earlier Russellform lists to follow, notably Zero Tolerance, recent winner Audience and Another Bottle who had a successful time of it last season.  Zero Tolerance is a course and distance winner that acts on soft ground and tomorrows jockey Jamie Spencer has won twice on him from 3 rides.

  

There are also 2 from our list to follow in the 4.00 but I cannot put up a strong case for either Arminius or Mostashaar.  The former has shown little this season and has been gelded while Mostashaar has also failed to live up to expectations.  Quito and Somnus are a couple of real old warriors that will relish a bit of give in the ground while Dabbers Ridge seems very much on the upgrade.  Quito has as good chance as any here I would say.

  

At Musselburgh Roger Fisher’s Muncaster Castle is dropped to selling class in the 2.35 and looks value at around 7/1.  Old Smokin’ Beau should give you a run for your money in the 3.10.  Claimer Victoria Behan takes 7 lbs off the top weight.

  That is all for tonight folks.

Continue reading “Diary: August 24 2006” →